Mile Higher Ed Podcast
Mile Higher Ed Podcast
Podcast Description
Higher education today faces challenges. We are reckoning with a legacy of discrimination and exclusion, moving through a global health pandemic, adapting to technological advancements in teaching and learning, and grappling with questions about the cost and even the value, of a college degree. Here at the Higher Education Department in the Morgridge College of Education at the University of Denver, our faculty, students, and alumni are working to address these challenges head on.
In Mile Higher Ed, we will shine the spotlight on the work DU higher ed faculty and alumni are doing to advance higher education. We will bring you the latest stories from our department--from compelling research findings to innovative practices to leadership in the field. Whether you are a DU higher ed alum or prospective student, or a higher ed researcher or practitioner, we invite you to learn from our community as we work to make higher education more effective and equitable.
Mile Higher Ed is a production of the Higher Education Department at the Morgridge College of Education at the University of Denver.
Follow MCE on Instagram: @morgridgeatdu
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast explores critical themes in higher education, including equity and access, faculty development, student experiences, and innovative practices. Specific episodes cover topics such as the value of inclusive environments in academia, the path to success for Latina students, and the role of open educational resources in promoting equity. Additional discussions happen around critical race theory in civic engagement, indigenous-centered educational practices, and challenges faced by transfer students.
Higher education today faces challenges. We are reckoning with a legacy of discrimination and exclusion, moving through a global health pandemic, adapting to technological advancements in teaching and learning, and grappling with questions about the cost and even the value, of a college degree. Here at the Higher Education Department in the Morgridge College of Education at the University of Denver, our faculty, students, and alumni are working to address these challenges head on.
In Mile Higher Ed, we will shine the spotlight on the work DU higher ed faculty and alumni are doing to advance higher education. We will bring you the latest stories from our department–from compelling research findings to innovative practices to leadership in the field. Whether you are a DU higher ed alum or prospective student, or a higher ed researcher or practitioner, we invite you to learn from our community as we work to make higher education more effective and equitable.
Mile Higher Ed is a production of the Higher Education Department at the Morgridge College of Education at the University of Denver.
Follow MCE on Instagram: @morgridgeatdu
This past December in 2024 the DU community lost Professor Emeritus of Higher Education, Dr. William E. Cross, Jr. Dr. Cross, known to friends and colleagues as Bill, was a preeminent scholar of psychology and Black identity development. In this episode, we are remembering the life and work of Dr. Cross by speaking with three people who knew him well.
First, we speak to Kahlea Hunt-Kabir, DU Higher Education Masters alumni and current doctoral student at the University of Maryland, about working with Dr. Cross as a student. Next, Dr. Roslyn Caldwell, Associate Professor at the DU Graduate School of Professional Psychology. She reflects with us about Dr. Cross as a mentor and friend. Then, we talk with Dr. Ryan Evely Gildersleeve, former DU faculty member and associate dean, who shares memories of working with Dr. Cross on the higher ed faculty. And finally, Sarah shares her memories.
About Dr. William E. Cross, Jr.:
An alumnus of the University of Denver, Dr. Cross earned his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology here at DU before earning his Ph.D. in Psychology from Princeton University. He taught and was on the faculty at Cornell University, Penn State, the City University of New York, and University of Nevada-Las Vegas. He came home to DU in 2012 to teach in the Morgridge College of Education, where he was faculty for both Counseling Psychology and Higher Education, including serving as Chair of the Higher Ed Department. He retired and received Emeritus status in 2018.
Dr. Cross was known for his groundbreaking theory of Nigrescence and his work on Black Identity Development. Nigrescence theory explains how Black individuals come to understand and embrace their racial identity. It describes a journey from possibly downplaying Blackness, through a period of cultural awakening and exploration, to ultimately developing a strong, positive sense of self rooted in Black identity. It’s a powerful framework for understanding personal transformation in the face of racism and societal pressure.
Some Links to Dr. Cross’s Work:
Video: APF at Home Fireside Chat with Dr. William Cross
Book: Shades of Black: Diversity in African-American Identity
Book:Black Identity Viewed From a Barber’s Chair: Nigrescence and Eudaimonia
Podcast: Nigrescence Theory Turns 50: A Conversation with Dr. William E. Cross, Jr, Liberation Now Podcast
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